IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  18 July 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130002276 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests retroactive Non-Physician Board Certification Pay (NPBCP) effective 1 June 2011.

2.  The applicant states that her board certification pay should have started 1 June 2011 instead of 1 October 2012.

3.  The applicant provides:

* certification documentation
* three leave and earnings statements (LES)

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant was commissioned as a Reserve officer on 15 October 2002.  She is currently serving on active duty as a major in the Army Nurse Corps.

2.  Her records show she received a Master of Science degree in Nursing on 21 May 2011.

3.  She provided documentation which shows she is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners effective 1 June 2011 to 31 May 2016.

4.  She provides a December 2012 LES showing an NPBCP starting date of 1 October 2012.

5.  An advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Special Pay Branch, Office of the Surgeon General, in the processing of this case.  The advisory official states a review of the supporting documentation indicates the applicant's NPBCP payments were authorized commencing 1 October 2012 with an expiration date of 31 May 2016.  He further states the applicant is eligible to receive NPBCP retroactive for the period effective 1 June 2011 through 30 September 2012 and recommends payment of NPBCP in arrears for that period utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance MS-Pay-Date of 1 June 2011 for the correct pay rate level.

6.  The advisory opinion was furnished to the applicant for comment.  She stated the advisory opinion was accurate.

7.  Department of Defense Instruction 6000.13 states that nurse officers who are health care providers are eligible for NPBCP as prescribed by Title 37, U.S. Code, section 302c.  This section provides that NPBCP may be paid to an officer of the Nurse Corps of the Army who is a health care provider, has a post-baccalaureate degree, and is certified by a professional board in the officer's specialty.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The evidence shows the applicant was eligible for NPBCP effective 1 June 2011.  The LES's provided by her and the advisory opinion furnished by the Chief, AMEDD Special Pay Branch, show she did not receive NPBCP for the period 1 June 2011 to 30 September 2012.  Based on the foregoing, the applicant is eligible to receive NPBCP for the period 1 June 2011 to 30 September 2012.

BOARD VOTE:

____x___  ____x___  ___x____  GRANT FULL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

	a.  showing she applied for an NPBCP effective 1 June 2011 and her request was approved in a timely manner; and

	b.  paying her an NPBCP for the period 1 June 2011 through 30 September 2012 utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance MS-Pay-Date of 1 June 2011 for the correct pay rate level.



      ___________x____________
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130002276



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130002276



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